All About Death Certificates
California Death Certificates
When someone you love dies, you will have a long “to do” list. As your local funeral director, we would love to be the one you call so we can help you handle the details. But if you decide to forge out on your own, here are some tips for taking care of one of the more daunting procedures – securing a death certificate. In California, where Foothill Funeral & Cremation is located, all deaths must be registered with local or state vital records offices within a matter of days. The vital records office can then issue copies of the death certificate, which you may want or your personal records or to handle a deceased person’s affairs.
Death Certificate Process
A funeral home, cremation organization, or another person of authority can act on behalf of the deceased person, arranging for securing and transporting remains and preparing and filing a death certificate. Preparing the certificate involves several steps, which must be taken care of quickly (3-10 days, depending on associated state law):
- Gather personal information from family members
- Obtain signatures from a doctor, medical examiner, or coroner.
- Complete the certificate, which includes information such as full name, address, birthdate, birthplace, father’s name and birthplace, mother’s name and birthplace, complete or partial Social Security number, education, place and time of death and cause of death, and (when applicable) veteran’s discharge or claim number and marital status date as well as surviving spouse.
- Order certified, sealed copies for use in burial or cremation. Transfer the deceased person’s property to inheritors. In some cases, certified copies are available only to members of the deceased person’s immediate family, the executor of the estate, or someone who can prove that they have a direct financial interest in the estate.
- After the immediate time of death passes, you can order death certificates yourself. Contact the county or state vital records office.
- For deaths that occurred within the past few months, start research with the county office. They may have filed and keep copies of the certificate.
- The cost for certified copies depends on the state. Expect to pay $21 for each copy in California. Executors of a deceased person’s estate can apply for reimbursement by the estate.
- For the specific rules that apply to obtaining death certificates in your state, see Burial and Cremation Laws. Or you can click here to see the handy Resource Guide we give to our families.
About Foothill Funeral & Cremation
If you call us at your time of need, we would love to help you with arrangements, including securing the death certificate for your loved one. Give us a call (626) 335-0615 or drop by our Glendora showroom. Our relationship with United Methodist Church is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorials. You’ll love the grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or contact us via email.
